Bildungsroman

Chapter five

Okay, it's been two years. TWO YEARS. I don't even know if anyone's reading this anymore. I wouldn't be. But if anyone is: I'm so SORRY!

Inspiration for this story is slow in coming, but it's coming all the same. I'm actually so impatient that I keep planning for future chapters, and forget I still need to like, write, chapter FIVE. And I've also been getting distracted by real life (college, graduation, work, ugh) and MCU fanfiction over on AO3. Add to the fact that I'm making preparations to start my MA overseas (in the UK! I can't wait!), and it's been just… yeah. A lot.

BUT… I've been re-watching the PoT anime to get inspired again, and I'm happy to say that… yes! It's working!

Another thing is that I keep getting ideas for alternate versions of this, and one in particular has planned itself out almost on its own. So I'll be posting that as well. Oh well. What's life without distractions?

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, with no copyright infringement intended. I don't own PoT, which belongs to Takeshi Konomi.
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It had to be said that Sakura wasn't easily intimidated.

However, she was extremely glad that she'd had no breakfast that morning, because the crowd at Rikkai Dai would have surely led to a spontaneous upchuck.

Debates in Seigaku weren't all that important to the student body in general; the debate team had only really gained a reputation last year, with Asano and Ueda. Before that, the inter-school debates their school had hosted had been mostly small-scale, with them and Hyotei always being the finalists. No school out of the prefacture had come.

But last year things had changed, and here they were, a Seigaku team invited to Rikkai Dai Fuzoku, a school that took debating much more seriously than most.

Of course, Rikkai took everything much more seriously than most.

Asano looked placid and unflappable as usual, a stark contrast to Ueda, who was practically vibrating with energy. They were like Yin and Yang, really; it was a thought that often made Sakura smile to herself, like now. They were really in their 'zone'.

Sakura really, really wasn't. She had attended and won several junior high school debates, and attended quite a few in her freshman year at high school, which had been the year when Seigaku's stock had shot up a hundredfold (Ueda and Asano, always Ueda and Asano). She'd always been the reserve, though, except for once. So she was lost, right now, and taking longer than usual to find her balance.

The fourth member was Yamato Yuito, from her year, but a different section. He was damn good, had been in the club since freshman year, like her, and hid a razor-sharp brain (and tongue!) under bluster and brawn. They got along reasonably well, but their paths didn't really cross much outside of club activities. Still, he seemed to be slightly off-balance, just as she was, although hiding it with his confident strut. She envied that; in an environment like this, showing the slightest weakness was like exposing a nerve, and if someone caught it, they would jump on it at the first chance.

So she squared her shoulders, raised her chin and firmed her steps. Asano had a reputation that people might dream of tearing down, but they also remained wary and even respectful; she was fresh meat that they'd like nothing more than to rip into.

Oh stars, she was taking this way too seriously. Now she was drawing up jungle comparisons.

They took their seats, the upperclassmen flanked by their juniors on either side. Sakura sat on Asano's right, her heart thumping wildly.

"Impressive poker face, Kagawa-chan." Asano said quietly. "I certainly wasn't as composed before my first debate."

Sakura laughed weakly. "Hard to believe, senpai. I'm freaking out."

"There's no need for that, but I do understand. Although," Unusually light eyes scrutinised her carefully. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Couldn't. I'd just throw it all up."

"You can still argue, though; I imagine it's hard for an unconscious person to argue very well." She turned to Yamato. "Did you skip breakfast as well, Yamato-kun?"

"No senpai. Managed a sandwich."

"Kagawa-chan, go get something to eat. There are still a good fifteen minutes left." Sakura didn't particularly want to, but she rose anyway.

"I'll come with you." Yamato said, also rising. "Get myself a juice or something."

Rikkai was huge, much bigger than their own school. It made sense, seeing as the fee was more than twice what they paid at Seigaku.

"Bet the food tastes better." Yamato remarked, hovering behind her, just out of the cafeteria line as she ordered her sandwich.

"It does. Didn't you want a juice?" She asked, gesturing towards the beverage counter even as she took a bite. It was good, for cafeteria food. She didn't eat at the Seigaku one all that often, and she certainly wouldn't now.

"No, not really. Just thought you shouldn't go alone; enemy turf and all." He grinned at her, his hands jammed into his pockets.

She looked around, suddenly aware of the very, very stark difference between their blue and white uniforms, and the mass of canary yellow. Not exactly unnoticeable.

"Thanks." She bumped his shoulder with hers. Holding out her sandwich, she offered him a bite.

As he took one, he bumped into a slender body. "Oh, damn, sorry, sorry!" He turned around, trying to back up without causing more inconvenience.

"Excuse me, would you mind- oh." A tall girl- taller than Sakura, anyway, and she wasn't all that short- appeared to have noticed their uniforms mid-sentence. "It seems the Seishun Gakuen team is here. How very… nice to meet you."

Her tone said it was anything but. Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Same here." She replied coolly. "If you'd excuse us, we have somewhere to be."

"Of course you do. Don't let me keep you." The other girl's voice was sweet as honey. "You wouldn't want to be disqualified. Especially since you've only just made the cut…"

Had it been polite- and could she have done it subtly- Sakura would have rolled her eyes. "Are all Rikkai students snooty, or only those who aren't good enough to represent their school?"

Ooh. Tender spot, huh? The other girl's cheeks lit up like a streetlight.

"Oi, Kagawa, quit fooling around, let's go. We're barely going to make it in time as it is." Yamato sounded faintly annoyed, and she couldn't blame him.

"Perhaps you should listen." Queen Bee jerked her chin in his direction.

"Not all of you. Right." Oh, she really could have resisted, but where was the fun in that? She smiled beatifically at Yamato as she drew level with him and they began walking- very fast- back to the auditorium.

"At least you ate." He grumbled. "Mouthy brat."

"Hey-" She was cut off by their re-entrance and his separating to sit between the seniors. She stuck out her tongue at him from around Asano.

Well. Considering that she'd been about to bring to his notice that she was, in fact, a very poised young lady who definitely had it all together- that may not have helped her case any.

But it made her feel better.

"Good morning." A smart-looking middle-aged teacher addressed the eight gathered teams from onstage. "Welcome to the first of this academic year's inter-school debates at Rikkai Dai High School."

Cue polite applause.

"We at Rikkai have always encouraged the debating spirit of our students, and we pride ourselves on the excellence of these inter-school competitions. In the past, we have played host to several distinguished names on our panel, and today is no different. Allow me to introduce Justice Sato of the Tokyo High Court as the chief panellist. She will be assisted by Mr Nakamura Sosaku of our English department, and Mrs Ikeda Tetsuko from the Social Sciences department, and Mrs Narita Seiko of the Psychology department."

Oh my god.

It was with a superhuman effort that Sakura managed not to lose her shit right then.

Sato Megumi. Justice Sato.

She was a legend. One of the most successful lawyers in Japan's history. Now a judge at the Tokyo High Court, she was a trailblazer for women in the legal field. Her judgements- and Sakura had devoured each of them, despite not understanding everything- were precedents in god-knows-how-many cases, and she was the author of several highly-acclaimed books on the past, present, and possible futures of Japan's legal system, all of which were too heavy for Sakura to get through without constantly consulting legal dictionaries and the internet. She'd read her autobiography though; it was, for lack of another word, inspiring.

Basically, everything I want to be. Judging me today.

Fuck.

Asano must have noticed the pallor of her face, because she squeezed her hand firmly. "I believe the tennis club's slogan is 'Fight-O!'?" She whispered. Sakura cracked a smile.

The convenor continued. "The debates will begin shortly; but first, I invite Justice Sato to say a few words." She extended an inviting hand in the direction of the wings, and-

–Sato Megumi walked out.

Sakura managed not to hyperventilate, but it was a near thing. She joined in the vigorous applause that greeted the judge.

"Thank you." The elderly judge's voice was firm and pleasant. "I will not take too much of your time. Debate is an old and venerated tradition to most cultures around the world, and we have to constantly strive to keep it relevant to our times, or risk losing one of the most direct and effective methods of criticism we have. To that end, I would like to remind the contestants: clarity." She paused, and the room was dead silent. "Clarity of ideas, clarity of thought– and from these two alone, flows clarity of expression, that quality of truly great debaters and orators. Keep this in mind as you take the stage today, and my best to each and every one of you!"

The applause that filled the room as she stepped back and bowed was even more thunderous than before.

"She's so cool…" Sakura sighed. Ueda and Asano exchanged an amused look.

The convenor took the mic again. "Today's event will take place over three rounds. The first round will have four debates; the second, two; and the final round will take place on this stage, between the two best teams from the eight gathered here." The eight teams eyed each other, and Sakura bared her teeth just the smallest amount as she continued to pay attention to the convenor's words. "The first round will take place in other, prepared rooms; the subsequent rounds will be held here. The debates will be as follows." She paused again, to make sure all were listening.

"Mizunohuchi High School vs Hyotei Gakuen, in the gymnasium; Ginka High School vs Seishun Gakuen, in Music Room 1 ("Ginka? Again?" Ueda whined); Tomoe High School vs Fudomine High School, in Music Room 3; and Yamabuki High School vs Rikkai Dai High School, in the ballet studio."

"Seishun Gakuen?" The four of them turned to find a girl who looked like a senior, in the Rikkai uniform. "Please follow me to Music Room 1."

Rikkai was way bigger than Seigaku. Like, way bigger. How people didn't simply get tired walking to class, Sakura had no idea.

"You must be Ueda-san and Asano-san." Their guide wasn't the silent type, it seemed, but neither was she rude. "You two have a few fans in our club- especially Asano-san."

Sakura nudged the surprised senior. "Hear that, Asano-senpai?" She winked. "You've got fans at Rikkai!"

"Of course she does." Ueda said proudly. Asano's cheeks coloured faintly at his broad grin.

"We value quality." Guide-girl assured them. "Of course, winning trumps all, but we respect a good fighter."

"Yeah, like Tezuka-buchou." Sakura muttered to Yamato. He rolled his eyes- Kagawa and her tennis.

They finally reached Music Room 3, where Ginka was already waiting. "Ueda, long time no see." The captain stepped forward and offered his hand. Sakura had a distinct impression that Ueda-senpai wanted to cut it off, but he shook anyway. "Mori."

There was no mistaking the blush on the other boy's cheeks as he turned to Asano, nor the attempt to throw out his chest. "Asano-san," This time, the greeting came with a friendly smile. "It's great to see you again."

"Likewise, Mori-san." Asano shook his hand, an impersonal smile on her lips. "Our juniors." She indicated Sakura and Yamato, who nodded coolly.

"If you're ready…" It was the social science teacher who was judging their debate. Sakura was slightly disappointed.

On the other hand, it was even more incentive to win this round– so she could stand before Justice Sato in the later rounds.

Ueda looked at his team, standing rearing to go. Sakura's eyes had a determined fire, Yamato's face was set, its lines proclaiming confidence, and Sadako-san… she looked serene and coiled tight, like a lioness ready to spring.

"Yes, sensei." He turned back to the teacher. "We are."

So there, the end of Chapter five! From now on, I PROMISE to keep people updated on my progress. And if this story's going on hiatus, I will let you know!

Cheers,
Chilli.